Defense Supply Center Richmond

Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR), historically known as the Defense General Supply Center, is an active Defense Logistics Agency installation in Chesterfield County, Virginia, about eight miles south of Richmond. The site sits on land that was the Bellwood farm and began military operations in 1941, with the depot activated in 1942 as the Richmond General Depot. Today it serves as the Defense Logistics Agency's aviation demand and supply chain manager, supplying aviation parts, lubricating oils, batteries, industrial gases, and other materials that support more than 1,300 major weapons systems. Over its long history the installation has handled, stored, and shipped large volumes of flammable, toxic, and corrosive chemicals. Decades of pesticide storage, firefighting foam training, and waste disposal left a legacy of soil and groundwater contamination that has been under investigation and remediation since the early 1990s.

Several substances used or stored at the installation have been associated with environmental contamination, and concerns about potential exposure have prompted ongoing study by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Defense Logistics Agency.

1. Solvents (volatile organic compounds): Chlorinated solvents and other TCE related volatile organic compounds were used at the installation as degreasers and cleaning agents and were among the primary contaminants detected in groundwater downgradient of the Area 50 Landfill. Long term exposure to certain chlorinated solvents in drinking water has been associated in some studies with a range of health concerns.
2. AFFF (aqueous film forming foam): Firefighter training at the installation involved AFFF, a foam used to suppress fuel fires. Repeated use during training has been linked to the release of fluorinated compounds into soil and groundwater, prompting concerns about potential exposure for nearby communities.
3. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances): PFAS, including compounds present in firefighting foam, persist in the environment and have been the subject of a dedicated EPA investigation at the site, guided by an internal technical memorandum completed in December 2024. Exposure to PFAS in drinking water has been associated in some research with potential health effects, and study at this installation is ongoing.
4. Heavy metals: Past waste disposal and industrial activity contributed metals such as arsenic to soil and sediment at the installation. Concerns about potential exposure to certain heavy metals relate to their persistence in the environment and the health effects associated with long term contact in some studies.

The installation was added to the National Priorities List on July 22, 1987, under its former name, the Defense General Supply Center, making it a federal Superfund site. A 1990 Federal Facilities Agreement established a cleanup framework among the EPA, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Defense Logistics Agency, dividing the work into 13 operable units that address different contamination areas. Records of Decision have been issued for all of the operable units, and remedial actions, including groundwater remediation and long term monitoring, remain ongoing, with the dedicated PFAS investigation continuing under EPA oversight.

Veterans and family members who lived or worked at Defense Supply Center Richmond may wish to stay informed as the cleanup and PFAS investigation progress. Those with questions about possible exposure are encouraged to keep records of their service and to speak with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs about available health resources and benefits.